Quote: "The house on the Elandan is built in aluminum sections and bolted to the frame." Have any details on this? Maybe a link?

The 1989 Elandan Brochure does show some of it, plus I have dug into it far enough that I can see it. Winnebago sent me the house engineering plans which confirmed my findings. The house consists of roof panel, rear panel, side panels and floor which are screwed together. The whole thing is then bolted to the frame outriggers and cab.

With the rear cap off it's easier to see the construction layers. Here's a picture of the upper corner where you can see the aluminum framing of the roof joining with the wall.

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So it isn't built any different than a modern unit. Vacuum bonded sidewalls and roof. The "aluminum structure" is just tubes inside the bonded structure. The strength is in the laminated layers.

I watched a body being removed from the frame at a former employer. It wasn't pretty, and would not have been able to be reinstalled very easily, lots of metal structure cut away. But that was a basement model, maybe the Elandans were a bit simpler.

The lovely engine bay. Gas is $6.50/gal here, but right now I plan on keeping the thirsty but great sounding 454. There is an exhaust leak at one of the manifolds, and the air injection system has been partially disconnected a long time ago. I will be looking for ways to improve gas mileage, perhaps with a more modern overdrive transmission and engine mods.

You are making some great progress! I can't wait to see how this project comes along. Every time I feel a little overwhelmed with my rigs projects I find a thread like yours and several other of the full on rebuilds and it makes me realize my problems are very manageable. I love the pics and can't wait to see your progress.

I have thought about going with the Gearvendors unit. The 475 transmission with the Gearvendors unit is certainly stout and would no doubt be a good solution.

Another option that I've been thinking about is a newer electronically controlled transmission like the 4l80e or even the 6 speed 6l80. An electronically controlled transmission would allow me to ditch the shifter linkage in favor of a dash mounted push button gear selection system.

The weight of the transmission solution is a factor. The Elandan is fairly heavily loaded as a stock vehicle, and I certainly don't want to make it any heavier.

You are making some great progress! I can't wait to see how this project comes along. Every time I feel a little overwhelmed with my rigs projects I find a thread like yours and several other of the full on rebuilds and it makes me realize my problems are very manageable. I love the pics and can't wait to see your progress.

Matt

Thanks Matt!

I found that starting my build thread is great motivation for going out there and working on it. I also don't have any target completion time. It's just going to have to take the time it takes.

I have the body and frame detached, but the body is still sitting in place. I have done a test lift of a few mm in a few places so that I can see that there is nothing left holding the body in place.

Do I leave the windows and A/C units in place when lifting the body off, or do I remove them? The way I figure it is that the windows add weight, they add rigidity, and they might crack if flexed. The A/C units are easier to remove when the body is off the frame - less height, but they also add weight. What do you guys think. Any experience out there?

I blew a hose on the back hoe this weekend, so I'll have to get that sorted before I can do any more heavy lifting.

I have the body and frame detached, but the body is still sitting in place. I have done a test lift of a few mm in a few places so that I can see that there is nothing left holding the body in place.

Do I leave the windows and A/C units in place when lifting the body off, or do I remove them? The way I figure it is that the windows add weight, they add rigidity, and they might crack if flexed. The A/C units are easier to remove when the body is off the frame - less height, but they also add weight. What do you guys think. Any experience out there?

I blew a hose on the back hoe this weekend, so I'll have to get that sorted before I can do any more heavy lifting.

I think you need to remove the windows ans A/C units, inserting "plywood plugs" in their places would be a good idea.

I also think you should build a lifting frame to distribute the forces when you pick the body off.

This means you might not have enough height with the backhoe to pick the body off???

Since I have no idea how much the body weighs, I don't know if the backhoe can lift it or not. At full reach it lifts half a ton. The front bucket lifts two tons, but doesn't go high enough for lifting the body from above.

My initial thought on the A/C units was to leave them until I got the body off and then load them into the bucket. But now I think I will lift them off with the hoe instead.

Do I lift from above or below? I was kind of planning to just lift the body using jacks and cross beams and then drive the frame out. But lifting off with a big machine is of course also an option. A third option is to take it apart, removing it in pieces with the roof first, then the side walls and finally the floor.

I'll have some time to think about it while I remove the windows I guess.